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I think India has to operate much more with Europe and the European Union as a whole. I want France to be its entry point

Emmanuel Macron

The 40-year-old president is travelling with a delegation of French companies including EDF, Dassault Aviation, Schneider Electric and Suez.

Mr Macron said: "I think India has to operate much more with Europe and the European Union as a whole. I want France to be its entry point.

"I want your creativity, your entrepreneurship, your young people to be much more present in France. Much more known and recognised. And I want to see the same from the French side."

AFP GETTY

Emmanuel Macron has made a swoop for Indian business

India was the third-largest source of foreign direct investment into Britain in 2015, contributing to its position as Europe's top destination for foreign direct investment, according to official British figures.

By comparison, India was only the 30th largest investor in France, according to 2013 Bank of France figures.

Mr Macron’s comments are the latest in a series of “choose France” speeches.

May and Macron hold crunch talks at Sandhurst

French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron attend a press conference at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Last month Mr Macron’s minister of economy and finance Bruno Le Maire revealed France plans to lure global banks from the City of London to Paris after Brexit to make the French capital the largest financial centre in Europe.

Mr Le Maire said Mr Macron’s sights are on JP Morgan, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, which all have offices in London.

Paris is planning to push forward wider plans to lure London-based bankers from the UK capital to Paris after Brexit by offering language lessons to finance sector workers and their families.

Up to 75,000 bankers are expected to relocate in the long term and Mr Macron’s government has rubbed-stamped the proposal to offer French lessons in London to bankers and their families to help them prepare for a new life outside the UK.